Madrid and Spurs Finally Agree Modric Fee - Report

One of the summer's most high-profile transfer tales could be set to come an end, after reports suggest that Spanish champions Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have agreed on a valuation for Croatian midfielder Luka Modric's services. A report in the Daily Mail states that a sum of £25m has been agreed upon. The reported fee is surprisingly low, given that Madrid had earlier offered a maximum of £30m and Spurs were holding out for at least £35m. There is, however, a catch in the deal - Modric will not be allowed to leave until the White Hart Lane club has signed a replacement.

The 26 year old midfielder has been the subject of much controversy and discussion this summer, particularly since Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy stood firm over a reported £40m offer from Chelsea last summer. His steadfast stance of refusing to sell the player unless his valuation was met resulted in Modric refusing to train with the team or join them on pre-season tours and finally in being forced to train alone, by manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Replacements?

Meanwhile, if the Daily Mail's report is true and Modric can only leave once a suitable replacement is signed, recent reports linking Rennes' French midfielder Yann M'Vila to White Hart Lane gain credence. However, M'Vila is not quite the same kind of player that Modric is, so that means Spurs will be expecting to make at least one more signing.

A more realistic option could be FC Porto's Joao Moutinho, who enjoyed an excellent 2012 European Championships for Portugal. Moutinho, 25, was reportedly interesting several Premier League clubs after his displays in Poland and Ukraine, with Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester United believed to be the leading candidates. Should Modric move to the Santiago Bernabeu, a move for Moutinho would make sense for AVB, given the two have already worked together when the former Chelsea boss was at the head of Porto. Moreover, there has already been contact between Moutinho and AVB and a £25m fee was suggested early in July by the Mirror, and Moutinho would help AVB establish himself in Spurs' dressing rooms.